Justus a



(No Model.)

J. A. TRAUT. SPIRIT LEVEL.

Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

N Psrzns, Phmum n mr. Washington, a c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT, OF NEWV BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANLEY RULE AND LEVEL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPIRIT-LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,969, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed December 28, 1889. Serial No. 335,280. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, News A. TRAUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Levels, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in levels; and the objects of my improvement are to simplify the construction and to provide a level that may be adjustably secured to any desired vertical surface.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing the side of my level as attached to a square block. Fig. 2 is a like elevation showing two. of my levels attached to a longer block with parallel edges, one of said levels being attached with its vial at right angles to that of the other. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing a detached View of the frame by which my level is secured in place. Fig. 4 is an enlargedvertical section on the line 00 00 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear view of a portion of the face-plate and vial.

A designates the frame for securing the level to the stock B, and C designates the face-plate to which the vial 6 is secured, said vial being exposed by an opening in said faceplate. This vial may be attached in any ordinary manner--as, for instance, by box-like lugs 7 brazed, soldered, or otherwise secured to the back of said face-plate, their confronting ends being bored with holes a little larger than is necessary to receive the ends of the vial, the box-like lugs being filled with plaster for securing the vial in place. The frame A consists of a box-like case for its middle portion, which is provided with screw-holes 9 and side flanges 10, having their outer edges formed on the arc of a circle and provided with curved slots 11, as shown in Fig. 3. Holding and adjusting screws 12 pass through holes in the face-plate and the slots 11 11 in the frame, and are provided with nuts 13 at the back or inside of the flanges 10.

To secure the level to any vertical surfaceas, for instance, a wall of a ship or other moving object or a level block or stockI bore a circular recess of a size that will receive and fit the edge of the flanges 10 10 of the case A, and secure said case in said recess by screws extended through the holes 9 into the stock at the bottom of the recess. The nuts 13 13 will be prevented from turning by resting against the walls of said recess, and the screws may be tightened up with a screwdriver. lVhen the screws are loosened, the face-plate C and attached vial may be moved a little either way, as if turning on an axis coincident with the center of said face-plate, and thereby bring the vial into its proper relative position to a level plane or to any given edge of the stock, after which adjustment the screws may be tightened to permanently secure the face-plate and vial in place.

' In Fig. 1 I have shown a single level attached to a square block whose edges are at right angles to each other. If the bottom one of these edges is placed on a horizontal plane the device may be used for a level, or if one of the edges at right angles thereto should be held against a vertical plane it may be used as a plumb.

In Fig. 2 I have shown two levels attached to a single block, the vial-case being at right angles to each other and adjusted with reference to the longer edges of said stock, so that one may be used for leveling and the other for plumbing. l

I claim as my invention- The herein-described level, consisting of the frame A, and its flanges 10, having the curved slots 11, said frame being adapted to be secured within the vertical side of astock or other support, and the adjustable faceplate C with vial attached, the same being held on said frame by means of screws, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

. J USTUS A. TRAU'I.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. TRAUT, F. N. STANLEY. 

